Quotation from: Villette

Written by: Charlotte Bronte


There is, in lovers, a certain infatuation of egotism; they will have
a witness of their happiness, cost that witness what it may. Paulina
had forbidden letters, yet Dr. Bretton wrote; she had resolved against
correspondence, yet she answered, were it only to chide. She showed me
these letters; with something of the spoiled child's wilfulness, and
of the heiress's imperiousness, she _made_ me read them. As I
read Graham's, I scarce wondered at her exaction, and understood her
pride: they were fine letters--manly and fond--modest and gallant.
Hers must have appeared to him beautiful. They had not been written to
show her talents; still less, I think, to express her love. On the
contrary, it appeared that she had proposed to herself the task of
hiding that feeling, and bridling her lover's ardour. But how could
such letters serve such a purpose? Graham was become dear as her life;
he drew her like a powerful magnet. For her there was influence
unspeakable in all he uttered, wrote, thought, or looked. With this
unconfessed confession, her letters glowed; it kindled them, from
greeting to adieu.

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